Apparatus for applying molten adhesive



Jan. 23, 1968 B. A. VON SCHOPPE 3,364,899 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOLTEN ADHESIVE Filed May 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 23, 1968 B. A. voN scHoPPE 3,364,899

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOLTEN ADHESIVE 2 Sheets-Shhee 2 Filed May 13, 1966 United States Patent ABSTRACT OF 'I'HE DISCLOSURE In an adhesive applying apparatus, an applicator roll containing peripherally spaced grooves disposed transversely thereof and at angles to the axis of the roll and 'having notches connecting the ont ends of the grooves with the front surface of the applicator roll.

This invention relates to apparatus for applying adhesive to parts of shoes and especially to an apparatus such as illustrated in my pending application Serial No. 470,748, filed July 9, 1965, for applying adhesive to the marginal edge of a preformed outsole. In that machine a transfer roll comprising one of a pair of feed rolls and a pair of guides are arranged automatically to present successive portions of the marginal edge of a sole member to the transfer roll for application of molten adhesive thereto, and as illustrated in the aforesaid application the peripheral surface of the transfer roll was provided with peripherally spaced grooves parallel to the axis of rotation for depositing adhesive in spaced parallel ribs along the margin. In that machine as the adhesive is applied to the margin of the sole member, strings of adhesive tend to be formed which become attached to the peripheral edge. This adhesive collects and retains fragments of leather, dirt, and the like, and if the sole member is an insole interferes with lasting operations.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide means for preventing the strings of adhesive from becoming attached to. the peripheral edge of the sole member during the applying operation; to provide means which operates to shift the strings of adhesive as they are formed from the peripheral edge toward the center of the sole member; and to provide means for disposing of the strings of adhesive which is comparatively simple and is generally applicable to transfer rolls for applying adhesive to the marginal edge of any part to which adhesive is desirably to be applied to prevent the strings from becoming attached to the peripheral edge.

In accordance with the invention and as herein illustrated, the machine comprises a pair of feed rolls and a pair of guides so arranged relative to the feed rolls that the feed rolls hold the part with its peripheral edge engaged with the guides while rotating the part in the plane of its surfaces. One of the feed rolls contains peripherally spaced, transversely disposed grooves for receiving a molten adhesive for application to the part as it is rotated and in accordance with the invention the grooves are disposed at angles to the axis of the roll, such that the ends of the grooves next to the guides lead the opposite ends in the direction of rotation of the roll. Preferably the grooves are disposed at such angles relative to the axis of the roll that when the roll and grooves are projected in a common plane, the grooves and the axis of the roll intersect at approximately and correspondingly the angle between the front face of the roll and any groove is approximately 75. The grooves are arcuate in right section, their front ends terminate in spaced relation to the front face of the applicator roll, and there are notches extending from their front ends through the front face. The rear ends of the grooves are correspondingly spaced from the rear face, preferably by a at plate secured to the rear face of the roll, the peripheral edge of which corresponds lin diameter to the ungrooved surface of the roll.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view diagrammatically illustrating a pair of spaced edge engaging members and the upper one of a pair of feed rolls arranged to traverse the edge of a workpiece against the edge guides automatically, the upper one of the feed rolls being designed to applying adhesive to the marginal edge of the workpiece as it is traversed;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing both of the edge guides;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation taken from the right side of FIG. l, showing the upper and lower feed rolls 4and one of the guides;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of a workpiece in the form of an outsole showing the adhesive applied to the margin;

FIG. 5 is is an enlarged elevation of the adhesiveapplying roll;

FIG. `6 is a fragmentary section taken diametrically through the adhesive-applying roll on the line 6v6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken transversely of the adhesive-applying roll on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings (FIG .1), the machine which is of the kind illustrated in my pending application 470,-

748, tiled July 9, 1965, comprises a pair of driven feed rolls 10 and 12 mounted for rotation on vertically spaced, horizontally disposed axes for advancing a part angularly relative to a pair of guides 14 and 16 in the form of small diameter discs mounted for free rotation on spaced parallel, vertically disposed axes. The lower feed roll 12 is yieldably supported to enable lowering it to place a part between the feed rolls and to hold the work in position while the latter is being rotated in the conventional manner of cross-feeding apparatus of this kind. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower feed roll has a cylindrical portion 18 corresponding substantially in width to the upper feed roll and a slightly conical portion 20 extending forwardly therefrom.

In accordance with this invention, the upper feed roll 10, which constitutes the applicator roll, is mounted for rotation in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 2. One of the lateral faces 22 (FIG. 5) faces rearwardly toward the guides and the other 24 faces forwardly therefrom. The peripheral surface of the roll contains Ia plurality of peripherally spaced grooves 26 (FIG. 5) which, in contrast to the grooves in the roll of the prior machine which were parallel to the axis of rotation of the roll, are situated at angles thereto. When projected into the plane of the surface of the drawing, the longitudinal axes of the grooves 26 represented by the lines X-X intersect the axis of rotation of the roll, represented by the line YY at acute angles a, so that as the roll rotates in a clockwise direction the ends of the grooves adjacent the rear face 22 lead the ends of the grooves adjacent the front face 24 and so that, at the line of tangency between the roll and the surface of the work, the longitudinal axis of each groove and hence of the rib of adhesive applied thereby to the work is very nearly at right angles to a tangent to the edge of the work at that point. This of course does not hold strictly true for an outsole at the tip and at the sharp changes in curvature of the outsole at the ball. However, it is generally substantially true throughout the remainder of the marginal edge.

Preferably the angle a is 15 and when this is so the axes of these grooves intersect the front face of the roll at approximately Specifically, the applicator roll is provided with twenty-four grooves spaced equally about its peripheral surface, these grooves being milled into the surface from the rear face 22, as shown in FIG. 7, and terminating short of the front face 24. The centers of the semicircular forward ends of the grooves are located at approximately 0.068 inch from the front face 24. Preferably the bottom of each groove slopes about 2 from the face 24 toward the face 22, as illustrated in FIG. 7, so as to apply more adhesive at the outside edge of the margin of the sole. The grooves are arcuate in cross-section, having a radius of about 0.0625 inch and are about 0.037 inch deep. A V-shaped notch 28 is formed in the peripheral surface of the roll between the front end of each groove and the front face 24. These notches are approximately 0.030 inch deep and afford a tooth-like edge which assists in feeding action. The rear ends of the grooves 26 are closed by a plate 30 corresponding in diameter to the diameter of the applicator roll which is fastened to the face 22 of the roll by silver soldering or other suitable means. The plate 30 is approximately 0.031 inch thick and provides an ungrooved margin at the rear face 22 so that no adhesive is applied to the extreme marginal edge of the insole.

The number of grooves and their dimensions 'as Well as their angles relative to the axis of rotation may be varied Within limits, although the angular disposition of the grooves herein illustrated is believed to be most effective.

The applicator roll is supplied with adhesive from a source such as shown, for example, in the aforesaid pending application by rotation of the upper part of the roll in a pocket to which molten adhesive is supplied and operates to deposit the molten adhesive on the outsole as the latter is rotated. Due to the angular disposition of the grooves in the surface of the roll, the strings of adhesive formed during application are displaced inwardly relative to the peripheral edge toward the center of the outsole, that is toward the front face 24 of the applicator roll and in fact are deposited substantially midway between the outer and inner edges of the band of adhesive laid down by the applicator roll as illustrated by the tine lines Z in FIG. 4, leaving the peripheral edge face perfectly clean and free of adhesive. This phenomenon takes place in varying degrees and seems to be most effective and satisfactory when the grooves are at angles of Although the apparatus shown herein is designed especially to apply a relatively narrow band of adhesive to the marginal edge of outsoles and insoles in spaced relation to their edge faces, it is within the scope of the invention to use apparatus of this kind for applying adhesive in spaced relation to the edge face of any part to which adhesive is desirably to be applied, and Where it is important to maintain the edge face clean and free of adhesive. Moreover, while the adhesive applied herein is molten and the strings of adhesive are formed by cooling, it is obvious that the apparatus can be used for applying adhesive which at normal temperature is liquid and the Stringing is caused by drying.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for applying adhesive to the margin of a part, an applicator roll comprising one of a pair of feed rollsv and a pair of guides so arranged that the feed rolls, While holding the part with its edge engaged with the guides, rotates the part in the plane of its surfaces; characterized in that said applicator roll contains peripherally spaced grooves disposed transversely thereof at angles to the axis of the roll, such that the ends of the grooves next to the guides lead the opposite ends in the direction of rotation of the roll.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the axis of any groove at its line of tangency with the work is substantially at right angles to a tangent to the peripheral edge at that place.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that notches connect the front ends of the grooves with the front surface of the applicator roll. Y

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the ends of the grooves adjacent the rear face of the roll terminate in spaced relation to said inner rear face.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that a flat plate is secured to the rear face of the roll, the peripheral edge of which corresponds substanf UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,083 10/ 1923 Osgood 118-252 X 2,046,199 6/ 1936 MacDonald.

2,292,558 8/ 1942 Bell.

2,471,397 5 1949 Perri 118-252 X 3,024,763 3/1962 Leibreich 118-252 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, (Assistant Examiner. 

